St. Matthias Transfiguration

June 28, 2009 - 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

A DECADE OF GOOD SHEPHERDING REMEMBERED

This week we gather to say farewell to Fr. Terry Keehan, a friend, colleague, mentor, spiritual leader, shepherd and above all our parish pastor, who has been at the center of the life of St. Matthias and Transfiguration Parishes for the past 10 years.

How appropriate that just this week Pope Benedict announced a “Year for Priests” in celebration of the 150th anniversary of John Mary Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests. St. John Vianney, also known as the Curé of Ars, was conscious of the immense gift a parish priest is to his people, and Fr. Terry, we hope you are aware of the great gift you have been to the people of St. Matthias and Transfiguration. You guided us through a time of great transition for the church, parish school, and surrounding Lincoln Square community. During your tenure, St. Matthias Parish has seen a growth of over 450 new families, and St. Matthias Transfiguration School has increased enrollment by 70 percent and transformed itself into an exemplary model of project-based learning, advanced technology use in the classroom, and inclusive education for all faiths and abilities.

If someone were to ask where you excelled most, you might be tempted to say your ability to list all NCAA basketball champions in chronological order. As impressive as that feat is, it is far surpassed by your celebration of the sacraments. During the last decade, St. Matthias and Transfiguration Parishes have been blessed with outstanding preaching, inspiring liturgies, and uplifting holy day celebrations. You have invited the people of the community not only to join in these holy occasions but you wholeheartedly encouraged them to serve as eucharistic ministers, readers, choir members, sacristans, ministers of care, and catechists. Through your inclusive spirit we have all felt welcomed to play important roles in the life of the parish, and we have been enriched in the process by deepening our relationships with our fellow parishioners, the priests and ministers of the parish, and ultimately with God.

Being true to your name as pastor, you have been there for us, the 1,200 parishioners of St. Matthias and Transfiguration, in our times of deepest sadness and anxiety and greatest joy and festivity. Your attention to the person or persons and not the task has made a difference in so many lives. You have been able to give meaning and perspective, comfort and acceptance, discernment and direction to all that life has presented to us. Highlights include the baptisms where you held a baby over your head and talked of the circle of life from the “Lion King” and described yourself as the baboon—which always got a good laugh; the weddings where you allowed the couple free expression to capture the momentousness and intimacy of the event; the funerals where you took extra care to present accurate portraits of the deceased and share hope-filled stories of our faith.

And like the Curé of Ars , who Pope Benedict tells us, knew how to live actively within his parish, you made a point of making yourself a part of the parish neighborhood by your daily runs and evening strolls and your unique way of evangelization through frequenting the shops and restaurants of Lincoln Square and getting to know the community’s merchants, vendors, and public servants. Had they saved them, the parish staff would no doubt have a drawer full of bar napkins on which you scribbled many a great new idea and the names of prospective donors, contacts, and volunteers while you were out among the people.

Finally, as our pastor, your greatest gift to us has been your lively sense of celebration and fun. Our special events—St. Patrick’s Day party, the Fiesta, Globalfest, Friends of the Grape, and Chistkindl—each launched during your tenure, have raised more money and brought more people, cultures, and clans together than in the history of the parishes. You have generously shared yourself, your lifelong friends, and your family with us for the past ten years. We will cherish what we have been given and what we have learned from you, and in gratitude we will continue to welcome people and embrace life in all its varied and holy moments as you have so eloquently taught us.

Farewell, Fr. Terry, and safe passage to your new home at Holy Family Parish in Inverness. We have been changed for the better and for good for having known you.

---

Our Mission Statement

We are a Catholic community of two parishes. We commit ourselves to celebrate our diversity, to give thanks for and preserve our rich traditions, to share our resources and to build a more collaborative faith community.
For detailed instructions refer to John 6: 1-13

Misión de la Iglesia

Somos una comunidad Católica de dos parroquias. Nos comprometimos a celebrar nuestra diversidad, para dar gracias y preservar nuestra rica tradición para compartir nuestros recursos y construir de manera más colaborativa nuestra fe comunitaria.
Para mas detallada instrucción lea Juan 6:1-13

Two Parishes - One Faith Community
English - Spanish - Tagalog

Dos parroquias - Una sola Fe
Ingles-Español- Tagalog

Welcome to St. Matthias & Transfiguration of Our Lord Churches >>

Download This Week's Bulletin

June 28, 2009

Click on the link above to view, print and download this week's bulletin and be updated on all of our churches' happenings.

A Letter from Father Terry

To the Great People of St. Matthias and Transfiguration,

We have a rather long Gospel passage this week that tells us of not one but two healing stories. Jesus heals the woman with the hemorrhage and the twelve year old daughter of Jairus, the synagogue official. After he had crossed the Sea of Galilee again accompanied by a great crowd, or in other words as he is was again emphasizing the importance of the new role of Christianity in the world with a growing number of followers and disciples, he stayed close to the shore or to the symbolic source of life and livelihood, the Sea of Galilee. He is now getting a reputation and people are following him seeking healing and hope. Jairus requests his healing for his daughter and the woman with the hemorrhage approaches Jesus because they both see him as a source of healing. They believe that he can make a difference. They get his attention. They request healing from him, He affirms that the woman’s faith in him has healed her and even after the twelve year old girl has apparently died Jesus still goes to the house and accompanied by her parents and the key disciples-- Peter, James and John, he heals her. But his healing action is followed by significant words that tell us who Jesus is. He says, “Little girl I SAY TO YOU, arise.” It is Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, saying this to her and letting the people and us know that it is Jesus who heals.

These past few weeks have been a real emotional roller coaster for me. So many of you have conveyed such beautiful sentiments and farewells to me and I am truly grateful for each and every comment, gesture of gratitude and appreciation that you have conveyed to me. My time here at St. Matthias and Transfiguration has been grace filled and challenging. It certainly has not been without setbacks, battles and disagreements but in an odd way I am even appreciative of those because they have been opportunities for me to grow or at least look at things in a different way. It has been such a privilege to share faith with you that has been manifest in so many important moments. We have shared times of joy, song, music and dance. We have also shared times of sorrow, setback, tragedy and confusion. Most importantly to me—so many of you have invited me to be a part of all of these moments. Some families in the parish and neighborhood I have shared just about all the above with and the range of these experiences point to the very essence of priesthood. Priesthood is a vehicle to share a wide range of sacred moments with the people of God and our role is to articulate or express God’s presence in those moments. I only hope that I have done so in a manner that has been worthy of your trust. I know that being with you during the range of powerful events has been so fulfilling for me and I will never forget the faith that you have shown in the midst of all of life’s adventures.

I am proud that we have developed a welcoming community here at St. Matthias and Transfiguration. I am most satisfied that many new parishioners have made a spiritual home with us because we have opened our arms to them in a warm way and included them in our parishes. I also believe that we have to become better stewards of the gifts that God has given us at both parishes. We must continue to share of our TIME , TALENT and TREASURE in more significant ways in the future so that BOTH parishes may continue to grow. With the numbers of priests declining this will be a critical challenge to the health of our parishes in the future. May God bless you as you move forward in these endeavors.5

I want to thank all of you who have worked so hard recently to coordinate farewells at both parishes. I want to again express my gratitude to the Spanish speaking community of Transfiguration and the many ways that you have shown me God’s love. As I said at Mass—you have shown me a beautiful Latin face, which has been God’s face for me. I have seen God’s face in your face and I will always hold that in my heart. I also wish to thank Ray and Esperanza Canas, Lorena Morales and others who coordinated the reception after Mass and to Maria and Lacides Caparroso for the beautiful song that you sang to me during Mass. Muchas, Muchas Gracias.

Carta Del Padre Terry

A La Gente Maravillosa de San Matías y Transfiguración,

Esta semana tenemos un Evangelio largo que nos cuenta dos historias de sanación. Jesús sana a la mujer con la hemorragia y la niña de doce años, hija de Jairus, el oficial de la sinagoga. Después de cruzar otra vez el Mar Galileo acompañado de mucha gente, o en otras palabras mientras enfatiza la importancia del rol nuevo de la Cristiandad en el mundo con toda la gente que lo seguía y los discípulos, el se quedo cerca de la orilla del mar o al símbolo de fuente de vida, el Mar Galileo. Ahora esta sacando buena reputación y la gente lo esta siguiendo buscando sanación y esperanza. Jairus pide sanación para su hija y la mujer con la hemorragia también se acerca a Jesús porque los dos lo ven como fuente de sanación. Creen que el puede hacer algo. Ellos piden su atención. Piden sanación, El les afirma que la fe de la señora la ha sanado, y aunque la niña de doce años aparentemente a muerto, Jesús todavía va a la casa acompañado por sus padres y unos discípulos— Pedro, Santiago, y Juan, el la cura. Pero su acto de sanación es seguido por las palabras importantes que nos dice quien es Jesús. El dice, “Niñita, te DIGO A TI, levántate.” Es Jesús, la segunda persona de la Trinidad, diciéndole y dejando que la gente sepa que es Jesús el que sana.

Estas últimas semanas han sido muy emocionantes como una montaña rusa para mí. Muchos de ustedes han expresado sentimientos y despedidas bellas para mí y realmente estoy muy agradecido con todos los comentarios, gestos de agradecimiento y apreciación que me han demostrado. Mi tiempo aquí en San Matías y Transfiguración ha sido lleno de bendiciones y retos. Definitivamente no ha sido sin contratiempos, batallas, y desacuerdos pero de manera extraña estoy agradecido con estas oportunidades porque me han ayudado a crecer o al menos ver las cosas de otro modo. Ha sido un privilegio compartir la fe con ustedes que ha sido manifestada en tantos momentos tan importantes. Hemos compartido tiempos de felicidad, canciones, música, y bailes. También hemos compartido tiempos de dolor, contratiempos, tragedias, y confusiones. De mayor importancia para mi—muchos de ustedes me han invitado a formar parte en estos momentos. Con algunas familias de la parroquia y vecindario he compart casi todas esas emociones y esa variedad de experiencias muestran la esencia de lo que es ser sacerdote. El sacerdocio es un vehículo para compartir una variedad de momentos sagrados con la gente de Dios y nuestro rol es en articular y expresar la presencia de Dios en estos momentos. Solo espero que lo haya hecho de una manera digna de su confianza. Reconozco que el haber estado con ustedes durante esta variedad de eventos tan poderosos ha sido satisfaciente para mí y nunca olvidare la fe que han demostrado durante todas las aventuras de la vida.

Estoy orgulloso que hemos desarrollado una comunidad acogedora aquí en San Matías y en Transfiguración. Estoy feliz que los feligreses nuevos han hecho de estas parroquias una casa espiritual porque les hemos abierto los brazos de manera calurosa y los hemos incluido en nuestras parroquias. También creo que hemos mejorado en ser administradores de nuestros dones que Dios nos ha dado en ambas parroquias. Debemos seguir prestando de nuestro TIEMPO, TALENTO, y TESORO de maneras más significantes en el futuro para que AMBAS parroquias sigan creciendo. Con la cantidad de sacerdotes disminuyendo, esto será un reto crítico en un futuro para la salud de nuestras parroquias. Que Dios los bendiga a todos mientras adelantan con estos esfuerzos.

Quiero agradecerles a todos ustedes que trabajaron tan duro para coordinar las despedidas en ambas parroquias. Otra vez quiero expresar mi agradecimiento con la comunidad de habla hispana de Transfiguración y los modos en que me han mostrado el amor de Dios. Como les dije en Misa—ustedes me han mostrado una imagen Latina, que para mi ha sido la imagen de Dios. He visto la imagen de Dios en sus caras y siempre tendré eso en mi corazón. Quiero agradecerle a Ray y Esperanza Cañas, Lorena Morales y las otras personas que coordinaron la recepción después de la Misa y a Maria y Lacides Caparroso por la canción bella que me cantaron durante la Misa. Muchas, Muchas Gracias.

Reflections on Our Faith

TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION

As Independence Day draws near, we think of the men and women of the military who serve with courage and competence, some far from home. How does the Church accompany them? In 1939, Pope Pius XII created an independent jurisdiction of the Catholic Church called the “Military Vicariate.” In 1985 Pope John Paul II created the “Archdiocese for Military Services, USA.” Spanning the globe and serving nearly one and a half million Roman Catholics, more than one thousand priests minister in hospitals, on military bases of all the armed forces, on ships at sea, and on the battlefield. The AMS does not ordain priests, but accepts priests on loan from religious orders and dioceses.

In 1824 a Jesuit priest named Adam Marshall enlisted in the Navy and died at sea in 1825. He was assigned as a “schoolmaster,” but he sought out and ministered to Catholic sailors. Twenty years later, President Polk was worried that the war with Mexico was seen as anti-Catholic, so he recruited two Jesuit priests to serve in the army as chaplains. At the time of the Civil War, only about ten percent of Americans were Catholic. Military policies forced Catholic soldiers to attend Protestant services. The Church protested this rule, and many priests volunteered to become chaplains. Their witness and the courage of the “Nuns of the Battlefield” (several orders of sisters who assisted Civil War victims) helped temper prejudice against Catholics and pave the way for the life and ministry of this vigorous and unique archdiocese.

Take Five for Faith

Invest just five minutes a day, and your faith will deepen and grow - a day at a time. Look up the daily passages from the New American Bible online at www.usccb.org/nab/bible/index.html. Download Take Five for Faith by clicking on the date below: Week starting Sunday, June 28, 2009 Sunday reflections available in Spanish! DOMINGO, 28 DE JUNIO DE 2009 Invierte sólo cinco minutos al día, y tu fe se intensificará y crecerá-un día a la vez.

SUNDAY, JUNE 28, 2009
THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

In the beginning

Did you ever wonder why God created the world and everything in it? It seems to beg the question: Obviously it’s an accomplished fact, so why ask why? But asking why tells us something about God. Did God need to create the world, because God was lonely or something? No: God—being God—doesn’t need anything. What did happen is that God’s love overflowed, and that happy flood produced creation. Yes, there were some flaws, which led to some much bigger problems such that divine intervention has been required. Remember, though, that all creation and creatures—and the latter includes you—were born in love. And so the only proper thing to do is give that love back to the world around you, and so ultimately back to the One who made it all.

TODAY'S READINGS: Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24; 2 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15; Mark 5:21-43

"God created all things so that they might exist."

DOMINGO, 28 DE JUNIO DE 2009
DECIMOTERCER DOMINGO EN TIEMPO ORDINARIO

En el comienzo

¿Alguna vez te preguntaste por qué Dios creó al mundo y todo lo que hay en él? Parece pedir la pregunta: Obviamente es un hecho llevado a cabo, entonces ¿por qué preguntar el por qué? Sin embargo el preguntar por qué nos dice algo sobre Dios. ¿Acaso Dios necesitaba crear al mundo, porque Dios estaba solo o algo así? No: Dios—siendo Dios—no necesita nada. Lo que sí sucedió es que el amor de Dios se derramó, y esa inundación feliz produjo la creación. Sí, hubo algunos errores, que dieron pie a problemas más grandes para que esa intervención divina haya sido requerida. Sin embargo, recuerda, que toda la creación y las criaturas—y ésta última te incluye—nacieron del amor. Así que la única cosa correcta que hay que hacer es dar ese amor de regreso al mundo que te rodea, y así al final regresar al Único que lo hizo todo.

LECTURAS DE HOY: Sabiduría 1:13-15; 2:23-24; 2 Corintios 8:7, 9, 13-15; Marcos 5:21-43

"Dios creó a todas las cosas para que pudieran existir."

MONDAY, JUNE 29
SOLEMNITY OF SAINT PETER AND SAINT PAUL, APOSTLES

Unlocking the doors of hope

When Jesus gave Saint Peter the keys of the kingdom, he encouraged him to use them to set people free and give them access to the grace of God. But we can set them free. For this reason Saint Paul wrote that he was being “poured out like a libation.” Saint Paul devoted everything he had—his money, his time, his energy, every resource including his life—to the work of freedom. As the Year of Saint Paul comes to a close today, the church rededicates itself to the work of the gospel: that all people may be released from the bondage of poverty, violence, and oppression to enjoy the freedom of God’s children.

TODAY'S READINGS: Acts 12:1-11; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18; Matthew 16:13-19

"The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom."

TUESDAY, JUNE 30

Have a little faith

One of the most famous of Jesus’ miracle stories is his calming of the waves. You remember: He and the disciples are out on a lake and a big wind comes along and starts to swamp the boat. The disciples panic and go to Jesus—who’s sleeping peacefully. You’d think these men, some of whom are fishermen and presumably have been through storms before, would keep their nerve a little better. “Lord, save us!” they cry nonetheless, and Jesus, before settling the storm, chides them for their fragile faith. Christ has faith-building power over the sea, and by implication over the chaos people frequently encounter. This tale tells its hearers that Christ will protect his own. Have some faith in his care today.

TODAY'S READINGS: Genesis 19:15-29; Matthew 8:23-27

"Why are you afraid, you of little faith?"

WEDNESDAY, JULY 1
FEAST OF JUNÍPERO SERRA, PRIEST

The zeal of approval

Zeal is a complicated thing, and Junípero Serra was both a zealous and complicated man—which belies his religious name, taken for one of Saint Francis’ first companions: Brother Juniper, known for childlike simplicity! While some contemporary critics correctly remind us that Serra’s 18th-century efforts at disciplining Native Americans were sometimes brutal, there is no doubt about his enormous personal sacrifices on their behalf and his stance to protect them against punitive military expeditions. While we may look at zealots today with suspicion, the opposite is complacency, which is no virtue. Though you may be wary of excess, ask yourself: Is there any zeal in me? For what will I sacrifice comfort, even heroically? For whose benefit beyond my own family and inner circle will I extend myself only because they are in need of help that I can give?

TODAY'S READINGS: Genesis 21:5, 8-20; Matthew 8:28-34

"I will make a great nation of him."

THURSDAY, JULY 2

Worth the sacrifice

Commentaries on the Genesis story of Abraham’s binding of Isaac usually focus on Abraham’s great faith in God, demonstrated by his willingness to sacrifice his son on God’s command. But what about Isaac’s faith? In modern times Isaac is typically portrayed as a young boy, but most traditional sources claim he was full grown at the time of the incident, certainly old enough to resist or at least flee from his elderly father. Abraham was, after all, 100 years old when Isaac was born. So perhaps today we can reflect on the great faith Isaac displayed in his willingness to trust his father, even to the point of a sacrificial death.

TODAY'S READINGS: Genesis 22:1-19; Matthew 9:1-8

"Take your son, your only son Isaac . . . and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you."

FRIDAY, JULY 3
FEAST OF THOMAS, APOSTLE

Have you seen the Lord?

It can be lonely to listen to your friends talk about their spiritual experiences if yours are of the more mundane variety. Not everyone has apparitions in a grotto or hears voices in empty churches (and it’s not always a good thing if you do). If your friends levitate, weep with ecstasy during prayer, or rave about their insights from spiritual direction, be happy for them. But also remember good apostle Thomas, who missed out on the big spiritual moment—being one of the first to see the risen Jesus—but made up for it later with the biggest, most whopping profession of faith in all of scripture: my Lord and my God!

TODAY'S READINGS: Ephesians 2:19-22; John 20:24-29

"So the other disciples told [Thomas], 'We have seen the Lord.' "

SATURDAY, JULY 4
FEAST OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY; INDEPENDENCE DAY

A day of celebration

Quick: What are the days the church especially celebrates the Blessed Virgin Mary? The Assumption in August. Yes. The Immaculate Conception in December. Good. And January 1. Right—Mary the Mother of God. There are some other ones, too, but in the church’s calendar almost every Saturday also celebrates the mother of Jesus. Today is Independence Day and a Saturday. How then to remember Mary between the barbecues and the fireworks? Maybe think about some of the values she lived—openness to God, selflessness, courage—and then put them into practice today yourself. They’re good things for someone of any country to do.

TODAY'S READINGS: Genesis 27:1-5, 15-29; Matthew 9:14-17

"New wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved."

---

Contributors: Father Paul Boudreau, Daniel Grippo, Father Larry Janowski, O.F.M., Ann O’Connor, Joel Schorn, Patrice J. Tuohy, and Sister Julie Vieira, I.H.M.

©2009 by TrueQuest Communications, L.L.C. PHONE: 800-942-2811; E-MAIL: mail@takefiveforfaith.com; WEBSITE: www.takefiveforfaith.com. Licensed for noncommercial use. All rights reserved. Scripture quotes come from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible.

Announcements & Upcoming Events

TAKE A MUSTARD SEED

We ask God to increase our faith. How often do we, as a couple, take one “mustard seed” of faith and together work at using and enriching it? Share a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend and nurture your faith and your marriage. The remaining 2009 Weekends will be held September 11-13, November 6-8, or December 4-6. For reservations, please consult our website at: www.wwmechicago-gary.org or call Kris and Jim at 1-800-442-3554. For Spanish weekends, call Oscar & Luz at 847-675- 2119.

High School Scholarships

St. Gregory the Great High School, located at 1677 W. Bryn Mawr in Chicago, is pleased to announce new scholarships available for students from St. Matthias Parish.

St. Gregory H.S. offers a unique, personalized education in a safe and nurturing environment. Please contact the Admissions Office at (773) 907-2127 for more information and to register for the 2009-2010 school year.

We look forward to meeting you soon!

The St. Matthias/Transfiguation
Annual Flea Market

September 12th and 13th

It's a great venue for you to sell your new or used items or products.
Reserve your space now by contacting Mary Green @ 773/725-1741

School and Religious Education News

Scholarship for New Students

St. Matthias Transfiguration School is offering a $900 scholarship to new students in Kindergarten through 8th Grade. Made possible through Big Shoulders and a generous patron, please take advantage of this offer for your children. Additional financial assistance is also available to needy families. At St. Matthias Transfiguration School you will find excellent teachers, a nurturing environment and values for life. We have openings in Prekindergarten through 8th grade. Call for more information or a tour today, 773-784-0999.

Lil’ Mustangs Summer Camp

Children ages 3-8 are having fun with drama, art, Spanish and physical education in the Lil’ Mustangs Summer Camp. Here they are creating scenery for a play.

$5 Sale

Get your logoed sweatshirts, sweatpants and shorts, youth to adult sizes, on sale at the school office. Hours are 9 am to 2 pm. We’re making room for our new Pre-kindergarten. Don’t mind our mess.

Alumni

A group of alumni, classes 1975-1985 got together for a reunion May 30 at Spyner’s Pub. It was such a success that another reunion is being planned for this Fall. Please update your contact information by sending an email to alumni@values4life.com or calling Deb Bukovy at 773/784-0999 so we may invite you. If you have a story to tell or would like to advertise a reunion in this space, please contact Deb.

CCD REGISTRATION

2009-2010 registration for CCD is underway. CCD is religious education for students in grades 1-8 who attend public schools, and it includes preparation for First Communion and Confirmation. Class times are either Saturdays from 9-10:15am or Sundays from 10:45-12pm; all classes take place in St. Matthias Transfiguration School. The first days of class are September 19-20. Tuition for the year is $125 per child and we must have a copy of a baptismal certificate for all students.

Preparation for First Communion is 2 years and Confirmation is a 2-year program beginning no earlier than 7th grade.

Registration forms may be picked up at either St. Matthias or Transfiguration rectories. If you have any questions or for more information, please contact Karyn McGovern, (773) 334-6622 or kemcgovern@juno.com.